"I was tortured fifteen times, that's total submission. They did that with shutting off your blood circulation with ropes, giving you claustrophobia and pain at the same time, bending you double"
- James Stockdale
About this Quote
This quote by James Stockdale speaks with the horrific abuse he sustained during his time as a detainee of war in Vietnam. He went through fifteen different abuse sessions, which he refers to as "overall submission." The torture he withstood included having his blood circulation shut down with ropes, undergoing claustrophobia, and being bent double. This quote speaks with the tremendous suffering and pain that Stockdale withstood throughout his time as a prisoner of war. It also speaks to the strength and resilience of Stockdale, who had the ability to make it through such abuse and eventually return home. This quote acts as a reminder of the horrors of war and the strength of the human spirit.
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